The vertebrate animals of Tasmania (mammal, birds, reptiles, frogs and fish), are of great national and international interest and an important component of Tasmania's natural heritage. Tasmania serves as a refuge for many species which, especially over the past 200 years, have become increasingly rare or extinct across the rest of the continent, such as the bettong, eastern quoll and pademelon.

FAUNA, Tasmania

Biological classification

Common name (example)

Estimated no. ofdescribed species

Possible total no. of species(a)

Annelida

earthworms, leeches

90

150

Chelicerata

spiders, scorpions, ticks, mites

298

2,000

Chordata

- Amphibia

frogs

11

11

- Aves

birds

331

331

- Mammalia

mammals

86

86

- Pisces

fish

600

700

- Reptilia

lizards, snakes

27

27

Cnidaria

jellyfish, anemones, hydra

96

150

Crustacea

crabs, shrimps, amphipods

484

550

Echinodermata

starfish, sea urchins

125

150

Entognathous Hexapoda

small insect-like animals

92

400

Mollusca

shellfish, snails, squid

1,400

1,500

Myriapoda

centipedes, millipedes

46

170

Nematoda

roundworms

120

12,000

Nematomorpha

hair worms

2

2

Onycophora

velvet worms

9

15

Platyhelminthes

flat worms

81

14,000

Porifera

sponges

440

1,000

Rotifera

rotifers (freshwater microfauna)

133

1,000

Uniramia

insects

7,641

14,500

(a) Estimating the possible total number of species is difficult, and in most cases should only be considered speculative.